Real Madrid vs. Manchester City: What was it like to see City’s only win at the Bernabeu

On Wednesday night, the latest chapter in a modern Champions League rivalry will be written when Manchester City once again make the trip to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid.

City-Madrid is becoming a common sight in European club football’s biggest tournament, with the pair often standing in each other’s way when it comes to pursuing Champions League glory.

This season, the latest encounter takes place in the league phase, which could make or break City and Madrid’s respective campaigns, and Los Blancos will be slight favourites with City registering just one win in their seven visits to the Spanish capital.

One person who was in attendance for City's only win in Madrid was DAZN News’ Matt Astbury, a Manchester City fan who reflects on a journey to remember.

The Blues invade Madrid 

The Premier League title pursuit felt like an impossible task with Liverpool already a distant leader by the time City faced Madrid on February 26, 2020, therefore all their efforts were put towards the cup competitions.

A Carabao Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley was to follow this trip to Spain, but this was the game City fans were focusing on.

Champions League matches between City and Madrid had taken on an extra level of escalation due to the chaotic nature of their encounters, and touching down in Madrid, it felt like something was bubbling.

Plaza Mayor, a go-to for English football fans preparing for a titanic battle against either Madrid or Atletico, was a sea of sky blue. From shirts to flags, thousands of City fans arrived in the hope that Pep Guardiola could mastermind a plan to have their team win at one of football’s cathedrals. Something which had become commonplace with his Barcelona teams of the past.

Matt Astbury (@AstburyMatt)

But, as the saying often goes for any football fan who travels, ‘The worst thing about these trips is the football’, and this feeling was lingering in my mind over some tapas, and a few pints of Mahou.

Nothing ever quite beats winning a big game away from home, especially when it comes to a footballing giant such as Real Madrid. While City were struggling in the Premier League, Madrid dominated the sport. Signing the best players, winning the biggest trophies, now after a huge amount of investment from Sheikh Mansour, City were getting close to competing with Madrid and challenging Europe’s traditional football elite.

After a few hours of singing, eating and drinking, it was time to make the journey to the Bernabeu, a place where City have often struggled to come to terms with the occasion.

The Bernabeu is still a cathedral despite being covered in scaffolding

Coming out of the metro station, the Bernabeu instantly appears. An imposing concrete structure which has been the stage for numerous moments in football history.

But this time, it was looking different. The stadium was undergoing its transformation into the futuristic spaceship it is now, with the perimeter a building site. While you would think this would detract from the stadium’s aura, it still had that special feeling.

Matt Astbury (@AstburyMatt)

This was a stadium which I had only previously seen on television or frustrating nights playing FIFA and seeing it in the flesh evoked feelings similar to attending your first football match.

If that’s the feeling I was getting before going in, what would it be like when actually inside with a high-profile game taking place.

A City comeback witnessed from the Gods

For anyone who has been to Europe watching their team, it’s safe to say the view of the match itself is not the best. It was no different at the Bernabeu, shoved into a corner in the lap of the gods, everything on the pitch looked like ants.

That did not deter the travelling fans who made themselves heard.

After a goalless first half, Madrid took the lead through Isco in the 60th minute courtesy of a mix-up between Rodri and Nicolas Otamendi. Cries of ‘Goal’ erupted in the stadium, and to those of us who made the trip, the phrase ‘Typical City’ was being bandied about and it felt like it could be the start of another night to forget in the Spanish capital.

However, City kept calm, stuck to their gameplan, and got a reward when Gabriel Jesus equalised 18 minutes later. What struck me is the slight millisecond delay from when the ball hit the back of the net.

The sheer distance away from the Bernabeu pitch means that whenever something major happens, it takes time for the brain to process what has happened. Then once I realised City were level, celebrations followed.

Matt Astbury (@AstburyMatt)

At 1-1, it would have been a result I would have been satisfied with when leaving this cathedral of football.

Then came a foul to Raheem Sterling in the Madrid box and City were awarded a penalty. As Kevin De Bruyne stepped up to the spot, silence fell across the City fans. While the boos and jeers rained down from the Madrid supporters, De Bruyne slotted the ball away to put City 2-1 ahead.

This time, the millisecond delay was non-existent. Already, I was hugging my dad, and everyone who would accept my offer as the Belgian pointed up to us delirious Blues.

The evening was capped off with everyone’s footballing villain, Sergio Ramos sent off and come the full-time whistle, City had finally done it, they had a win at the Bernabeu.

The traditional hold black, flanked by police in riot gear was no bother. Instead, it was a victory parade, and the full repertoire of City chants was sung as various squad members warmed down on the pitch.

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Travelling back to the hotel, there was a huge smile on my face and a spring in my step, no surprises there. Could this win be the start of City salvaging their season and winning some silverware?

A Carabao Cup final win over Aston Villa, and FA Cup success against Sheffield Wednesday continued that winning feeling, but then football was stopped by the COVID pandemic.

I often have a knack for being in attendance for historic City moments, I was there for the Aguerooooo goal, and winning in Madrid was no different.

Seeing City topple this European giant will long live in my memory, and until Pep Guardiola’s side wins there again, I will have played a role, albeit as a passionate spectator, in a historic moment for the club.

How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN

Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription. 

There are three subscription options, offering differing selections of sports in each. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)